One month before pictures: Book photo session. Pick color scheme and look up outfit ideas.
Three weeks before pictures: Remind my husband that we are taking pictures.
One week before pictures: Freak out because I think the pictures are this weekend then look at the date and realize it’s next weekend.
Picture DAY: Run around crazy trying to get myself and my family presentable to take pictures. Kids have multiple meltdowns– I start losing my mind and patience and think to myself– why even bother?
^^Somehow this seems to happen to me more times then I would like to admit. Does anyone else feel this way?

Love the scenery!! Note: Don’t have your cell phone in your back pocket!! Also my jeans are rolled up on one side. Wished I or the photographer would have noticed this.

If there was ever a perfect love-hate relationship than it would be mine with taking professional pictures. I love taking pictures because of the end result, the beautiful portraits I get to keep of my family. I hate the stressors that most of the time it brings me. Picking the “perfect outfit”, getting everyone ready, keeping everyone clean, and getting to the location on time. It can be overwhelming, but is doable! Below are some tips to help you take pictures with ease.

Tips for having a successful photo session:
1. Schedule your photo session at a convenient time.
–Make sure to schedule the session at a time that works for you and your family. Don’t schedule early morning pictures if people in your family aren’t morning people, don’t schedule pictures close to nap times or times that people eat. It is no fun having a cranky child or adult during a photo session.
2. Pick outfits ahead of time.
–This is so important. Make sure you have everything from your clothes, to shoes, and accessories picked out before the day of your photo session!
3. Hairstyle.
–This is also something that can be decided before the day of the photo session. Decide how you want to wear your hair and give yourself enough time to do it.
4. Iron clothes ahead of time.
–Every little thing helps. Having the ironing done is just one more thing you don’t have to do the day of!
5. Get to the location 10 minutes early.
–I find this is really helpful with my little ones. When we aren’t rushing to get out the car and jump right into taking pictures they do so much better!!
6. No eating before the session.
–Somehow, someway your kids will figure out how to mess up their outfit or yours. The rule for us is after you are dressed no food until after we are done taking pictures!
7. HAVE FUN!
–Let your kids play around and play with your kids. Honestly this is the first photo session that we really did this, and it was by default because Mason was not working with us! I’m so glad Ashley, our photographer, suggested just playing. We had fun and were able to get some great pictures.

This is my favorite picture from the session! I love it so much!!So wish I or Ashley would have noticed my jeans rolled up. It bothers me so much! Despite that I still LOVE this picture of me and my baby girl!LOVE LOVE LOVE this view. So glad my hubby found this gem of a spot and Ashley was able to snap this picture of all of us looking!

How to figure out what to wear?
FIRST– Pick a color scheme.
–Pick two to three colors that you want in your pictures. Note: Not everyone in the pictures has to be wearing all the colors you pick!
SECOND– Decide what look you are going for.
–Do you want your family pictures to be casual, dressy, or formal? Keep in mind the location when deciding this! For example, you don’t want to be formal if your taking pictures at a ice cream parlor.
LAST–Have some people wearing patterns and some wearing solids.
–I feel pictures look so much better when the individuals in the photos aren’t all matching exactly. Intermixing solids with patterns always looks great!

The photos I’m sharing from this fall mini session were taken by Ashley Rose. She is located in Vancouver, Washington. We usually only take Christmas pictures, but I decided since we are in the beautiful GREEN state of Oregon we had to take some fall pictures. I’m so glad we did. Our pictures were taken at Cathedral Park. It is so beautiful there and there are so many different shots to be taken.

How the session went:
Ashley was super sweet! We got stuck in traffic and were late to the session. Way to make a first impression, right? She was so kind and understanding. My middle son, Michael, does not like taking pictures and had fallen asleep on our way there so he was not feeling it at all. On top of that, Mason would not sit still for anything! It was a catastrophe at first. I’m still so surprised she was able to get some pictures of us all looking at the camera. If you are local and in the market for some pictures click here to check out Ashley’s photography page! I definitely recommend her!! Check out the rest of the pictures below that were taken during our session!
Isn’t the bridge in the background beautiful?! I love it– it is the St. Johns Bridge.

My last tip for getting professional pictures taken is to get a mini session instead of a full session! A mini session is what photographers offer at a lower price for a shorter amount of time and fewer edited pictures. Photographers usually offer mini sessions around holiday seasons. The sessions and short and sweet. Plus you save money!